Malaysia's economy expanded 5.3% year over year in the third quarter, a slower pace than the previous quarter as factory output strengthened and mining contracted.
The second-quarter growth rate was 6.0%. Third-quarter output was RM466.4 billion in constant 2015 prices, while cumulative growth through September stood at 5.5%.
Manufacturers' output advanced 7.5% after a 7.3% gain in the preceding quarter. Output gained support from makers of electrical, electronic and optical goods for export, and from producers of rubber, plastic, chemical and petroleum products.
Services growth eased to 5.4% from 5.9% in the previous quarter. Mining and quarrying shifted from 9.2% growth to a 4.9% contraction, partly as crude oil and condensate production declined.
Electrical and electronic goods exports reached RM92.48 billion in August, 66.5% above a year earlier and accounting for 48.4% of the month's exports. The category's exports totaled RM656.14 billion from January through August.
For the advance estimate, available July and August figures were supplemented with estimates where data was missing; revisions may follow as more complete figures are compiled. Malaysia is scheduled to issue a preliminary third-quarter GDP report on Nov. 18.
